Cotton-separator machine



3 V .m, 6 1 mm... a 9 0 m r 5 V. m 5 f 2 m MW E w 5 2 n fl kW E N w MW m m W w April 21, 1953 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 April 21, 1953 A E. YEAGER COTTON-SEPARATOR MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 INVEFJOR.

m 6 Q E m N E R flm E 5 A R M r n 0w Patented Apr. 21, 1953 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE corron-ssrma'ron momma Arthur E. Yeager, Brownfield, Tex. Application September 16, 1949; Serial No. 116,127 Claims. (01. 19-76) This invention relates to a cotton-separating machine, and more particularly to a machine for separating green cotton, grubs, stones, and other foreign material from the harvested cotton before the cotton has been to the gin or cotton mill. It is an object of this invention to provide a cotton separator of-thekind to be more particularly described hereinafter, which is formed for extracting the suitable cotton from the harvested material and discharging the foreign matter.

-Another object of this invention is to provide a cotton-separatingmachine of this kind which is provided with movable baffle members which control the clearance space about the beater for controlling the general efiiciency of the machine and for adapting the machineto various terrain or environmentsto beencountered in a particular location. 5 With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings: l

' Figure 1 is-a top plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a'cotton separator constructed according toan embodiment of this invention? a a e I 3 Figure 21s a fragmentary longitudinal section takenon the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

"Figure 3 is a side elevation of the cotton-separating machine; 3

Figure 4 is a transverse" section taken on the lmegl-f-lofFigure 3. i r

f. Referring'to'the drawings, the numeral Ill designates" generally a cotton-separating machine for separating the ripe or desired cotton from the grub andiotherforeign material which is taken up at the time of harvesting the cotton. The cotton-separating machine lllis formed for separating the desirable cotton from the green cotton andthe grub as thecotton is being harvested, the machine being formed for separating and discharging the undesira'ble'or foreign material and for moving the desirable cotton forwardly to be further handled by a cotton gin or cotton mill. ,The cotton-separating machine [0 is formed of an elongatedj:-tubular body ,I l, openat the oppo-. site endsthereof, one of the ends being directed downwardly forpicking up the cotton and other material to becollected; The rear end l2 of the bodyz-ll is ppen at. the lower end of the vertical arm l4, and the material picked up at the lower zontal portion IS. The extreme upper end of the vertical arm I4 is in communication with the rear end of the horizontal tubular arm [5, as clearly noted in Figure 2 of the drawings, the connection between the vertical arm I4 and the horizontal tubular arm I5 being accomplished by a curved or bowed connecting section.

The horizontal arm [5 of the body I l is formed with a bottom opening l6 intermediate the length thereof. [The opening I6 is communicated with they upper end of a conical discharge tubular member 19 which opens into the bottom portion of the horizontal tubular member 15 and converges downwardly therebelow. One side .l8 of the downwardly-convergent discharge tube I9'is engaged at its rearend with the rear transverse edge 20 of the opening [6 and the forward edge of the tubular member I9 is connected, as noted by the numeral 2|, to the transverse forward edge of the opening I6 providing a sort of hopper intermediate the length of the body II and intermediate the length of the tubular member l5 which is disposed horizontally of the body I I.

The upper conical end of the discharge tube l9, together with the intermediate portion :22 of the tubular member 15, constitutes a separating chamber in which the separation of the grub and foreign material from the cotton is accomplished.

A beater 24 is rotatably mounted in the body Ll within the separating chamber 22 and extends downwardly within the upper end of the tubular discharge member l9;

r The beater is formed as a cylindrical body which is defined by a pair of circular end plates 25 connected together bya plurality of circum ferentially-disposed transverse bars or members 26. The transverse bars 26 are of a length slightly greater than thewidth of the body H at the separating chamber 22, and extend outwardly through openings in the respective side walls of the body II, as clearly noted in Figure l of the drawings. The end plates or. discs 25 are disposed outwardly of the side walls of the body II and are enclosed in outwardly-offsetpockets or The opposite ends of the axle 28 arejou'rnaledin bearings 29 mounted on supporting members 30 fixed on the respective outer sides of the side 'walls of the housing II, as clearly noted in Figures 1 and3 ofthedrawings, a t V One end of the axle 28 is extended farther outwardly from the side wall of the body II and a suitable pulley wheel 3| is fixedly mounted thereon for engagement with a belt 32 which will be secured at its other end, not shown in the drawings, to a suitable source of power. The movement of the belt 32 will directly effect the rotation of the beater 24 within the housing II for separating thedesirable cottom from the green cotton at'hdbthrforeig'h material which is picked with the'cotton'intheprocessof harvesting the cotton. I

As noted in Figure 2 of the drawings, the diameter of the end plates 25 of theb'eater 24 'is greater than the vertical height of the chamber 22 defined by the bottom wall of thehousirigl I,

but is substantially smaller than the yerti cal height of the chamber 22 which is defined by the upper portion of the body I between the tra ns-- verse side walls thereofand the upper end of the hopper. I

For separating the desirable cotton from i the undesirable-material, there is provided abafile member 34 pivotally mounted adjacent the? rear.

edge'oftheopening-lt. The baflle member or plate-34 is xpivotally mounted atits rearmost transverse edge 35 to the rear transverseedge of the-opening I6 by'ahinge member 36 and'the forwardtransverse"edge of the bafile member 34 is .disposed for selected disposition relativeto the periphery 'of-the beater"24,-=as clearly'note'd in F-igure'z'of the drawings.

:A--link or control' -arm 31 is=-slidaloly connected at its inner-end toia'slot 34 formed in the baffle member-34 andextends downwardly and rearwardly through the rear wall IB-of 'the tubular discharge member I9. and through a ferrule 38 which is fixedly'mounted on the lower side of the hopper. 'A set screw 39 is threadablyengaged through one wall of the ferrule '38 for frictionalengagement at its inner end with the outer surface of the link 31 to securethe'link in a selected position and thereby secure the baffle member 134-in; a selected pivotedposition. The bafflememberis'swingably mounted so that the forward ;transverse edge 40 will be positioned relativezto. the periphery of the beater 24 in a selected spaced-apart position for restricting the passage through which the cotton and other material will bedraw-n, the restricted passage assisting -in the separation of the desirable'cotton from the other foreign material.

second baffle member AI is pivotally'mou'nted =at-the forward edge '2I of theopening I6 and ispivotally connected by a-hinge42 to the forwardtransverse edge ofthe opening I6, the baffie 4| being disposed in confronting relation to the bafile 34 d'escribedabove. The rear edge '44 of the baffle member is adapted to be positioned below the forward-portion of the reel or beater. 24, asclearlyshown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and will besupported inits selected spaced apart relation tothe beater by the link.

45 which is slidably connected ati'ts upper end to-a= slot 4| formed in the baffle plate 4| and extends downwardly and outwardly through the forward wall I'I- of the hopper. The outer end o'f-the link 45 is slidablyengaged through aferrule 46 on the forward side of the discharge member I9, and the link 45 is secured in a selected position by a set screw41 which is threadably'engaged through the ferrule 46 and will loclcthelink 45 andthe baflle-4I intheir selected 9 3 9 1 1. .7 in the normal operating position'sof the i'bafbafile plate 48 is fixedly secured to one side of a hinge 49, the other side of the hinge 49 being -fixedly secured; transversely to the top wall of the housing II. The bafile 48 is arcuately shapedfratherthan flat as the baffles 34 and 4! described above, thebaflie 48 being positioned at the top portion oi-the beater 24 for preventingthe p'assage of the cotton or other harvested material over the top of the beater. A link or connecting arm- 49 isslidably conhected-:at' 'its and extends outwardly through a :f-errule 51 fixedly secured to the outer surface :of the upper side of the-housing I I. "LASEUSCI'BW S2 isthreadably engaged through, the ferrule -5I :and will bear at its inner end against the outer-surface of the link 49 for lockingthe link-in aselecte'd-l position 1 and thereby securing the bafile 48 in -a selected;--pivoted position. "In the normala-posr-t tion of the bafile 48, the rear transverse edge -fl will bepositioned in very close proximity 420* the periphery of the beater forexcluding the movemen-t of the; cotton 0 and other material Ma'o've'r the topof thebeater 24.

"In the use and operation of the cotton-sepaw rating machine 10', a conventional sourceo! vacuum or suction means, such as illutrate d in Figures 1 and =2-of Patent No.=57'7;-15-3,; is*applied to the front end I-5-of-the body 'I I fordraw-ing.

from the interior;-thereof- -and connected r to thefront end [5 of the body-II and having -alkpipe R leading to the outside atmosphere. The proper positioning 'of the bafiie member'48e'is initially determined to prevent the cotton-C=-ahd other material-M from being-moved along -the length of the horizontal body member Mover the beater24, but to confine the passageaofithe cotton and other material through the --hopper.

below' the beatenqa's clearly shown in Figure-2 of the drawings. The baffle member34-will-then be-initially set in spaced-apart'relation to the beater 24 for confiningthe passageof thematicrial in such 'a manner that the vacuum or-'suc' tion at the forward'endof the 'body II'will move,

the ripe cotton forwardly I in engagement "with the transverse bars 26 of the :beater2'4; "while the heavier material, such 'as the' green "cottom the grub, stonesand other-foreign material ein'g' heavier than the ripe 'cotton, will fall "dew wardly into the'discharge tube IS tIirZiugh he discharge opening I6, as clearly ridtedin Figure 2 of the drawings.

lation to the beater 24 a1greater-distance -away from the periphery thereof than the 'spacepetween the "ba'fiie-34 and the beat'er 's'o-"thaLt*tlie cotton which is substantially in' 'enga'gement with the beater '24 may be moved forwardly along -the length-ofthe body-I I Theforw'a'rdmostbafiie riiember'4I 'will' be positioned in its spaced apart rethrough" the :rorward'op'enby a suitable'power means,"not shown in the drawings, for driving the belt32 which in turn willfrotate the wheel or pulley 3| and the shaft o'r axle '28 which is fixed to the center of the beater 24; i i i l I do not mean to confine myself to the exact detaile of construction herein disclosed,--but claim all variations fallingwithin the purview of the appended claims.

I, claim:

"-lsln-a cotton separator; a tubular bodyhaving an open intake end for receiving harvested cotton and having a discharge end, suction means disposed adjacent the discharge end for moving the cotton through the body, said body having a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with an opening for the discharge of foreign material heavier than the cotton, a hopper connected to the bottom wall and communicating with the opening, a heater rotatably journaled transversely in the body and disposed below the top wall and within the opening in the bottom wall, baffle members hingedly connected to the bottom wall and disposed transversely within the opening therein, said baffle members underlying the lower portion of the beater, means for locking the battle members in adjusted positions during rotative movement of the beater, and adjustable baffle means carried by the top wall and overlying the beater.

2. In a cotton separator, a tubular body having an open intake end for receiving harvested cotton and having a discharge end, suction means disposed adjacent the discharge end for moving the cotton through the body, said body having a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with an opening for the discharge of foreign material heavier than the cotton, a hopper connected to the bottom wall and communicating with the opening, a beater rotatably journaled transversely in the body and disposed below the top wall and within the opening in the bottom wall, a first bafile member hingedly connected to an edge of said opening near the middle of the bottom wall adjacent to the intake end of the body and underlying the beater, said first bafile member being transversely disposed into the opening in the bottom wall and forming an adjustable prolongation of the bottom wall, means for locking the first baiiie member in adjusted positions, a second baiile member hingedly connected to an opposite edge of said opening near the middle of the bottom wall adjacent to the discharge end of the body and underlying the beater, said second baflle member being disposed into the opening in the bottom wall, means for locking said second baflle member in selected positions relative to the beater, the babies having free edges spaced out of engagement beneath the beater and forming an opening for the gravitation of the foreign material into the hopper, and adjustable bafile means depending from the top wall and overlying the beater.

3. In a cotton separator, a tubular body having an intake end and a discharge end, suction means disposed adjacent said discharge end for moving the material through the body, said body having a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a transverse opening formed therein for the gravitation of foreign particles heavier than the cotton from the body, a beater rotatably journaled transversely in the body and having 3 its lower portion positionedwithin the, opening, a hopper connectedto: the bottom wallandcommunicating with the opening, a first bafile member hingedly connected transversely to thebottom wall-at the forward portionof the opening, said first baflie member being disposed within the opening and underlying the heater in.

spaced adjustable fashion, means for locking the first bafiiememberinadjusted positions so that the first baflle member defines an adjustable prolongation of the bottom wall, a second baflle member hingedly connected to the bottom wall at the rearward part of the opening, means for locking the second bafile member in adjusted positions relative to the beater, said baflie members having free edges spaced out of engagement and forming an adjustable outlet for the foreign particles.

4. In a cotton separator, a tubular body having an intake end and a discharge end, suction means disposed adjacent said discharge end for moving the material through the body, said body having a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a transverse opening formed therein for the gravitation of foreign particles heavier than the cotton from the body, a beater rotatably journaled transversely in the body and having its lower portion positioned within the opening, a hopper connected to the bottom wall and communicating with the opening, a first baflle member hingedly connected transversely to the bottom wall at the forward portion of the opening, said first bafile member being disposed within the opening and underlying the beater in spaced adjustable fashion, means for locking the first baflie member in adjusted positions so that the first baffle member defines an adjustable prolongation of the bottom wall, a second baflle member hingedly connected to the bottom wall at the rearward part of the opening, means for locking the second baffle member in adjusted positions relative to the beater, said bafiie members having free edges spaced out of engagement and forming an adjustable outlet for the foreign particles, said locking means for said first baflle member including a link pivotally attached to the baffle member and slidably disposed through the forward wall of the hopper, and means carried by the wall of the hopper for locking the link in adjusted positions.

5. In a cotton separator, a tubular body having an intake end and a discharge end, suction means disposed adjacent said discharge end for moving the material through the body, said body having a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a transverse opening formed therein for the gravitation of foreign particles heavier than the cotton from the body, a heater rotatably journaled transversely in the body and having its lower portion positioned within the opening, a hopper connected to the bottom wall and communicating with the opening, a first baiiie member hingedly connected transversely to the bottom wall at the forward portion of the opening, said first bafiie member being disposed within the opening and underlying the beater in spaced'adjustable fashion, means for locking the first bafiie member in adjusted positions so that the first baffle member defines an adjustable prolongation of the bottom wall, a second bafiie member hingedly connected to the bottom wall at the rearward part of the opening, means for locking the second baflie member in adjusted positions relative to the beater, said baffle members having free edges spaced out of em z mwwev the bafieY-gandmeanS fdr adiustably mfitmting 5 XEAGER;

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